General elections were held in Singapore on 2 April 1955 to elect 25 members of the Legislative Assembly. It marked a pivotal moment in Singapore's political development, being the first election conducted under the Rendel Constitution, which introduced a significantly expanded legislature with a majority of elected seats. Of the 32 seats in the new Legislative Assembly, 25 were contested by election, while the remainder were filled by nominated or ex-officio members. The election featured multiple new political parties and was the first to witness widespread participation by locally founded political organisations.
The election resulted in a hung assembly, with the Labour Front (LF), a newly formed centre-left party led by David Marshall, emerging as the largest party with 10 seats. The People's Action Party (PAP), contesting its first general election under the leadership of Lee Kuan Yew, won 3 seats, while the Progressive Party (PP), the largest party in the previous Legislative Council, suffered a significant decline, securing only 4 seats. Marshall was appointed Singapore's first Chief Minister after forming a minority government with the support of the Singapore branches of the United Malays National Organisation (UMNO), the Malayan Chinese Association (MCA) and several independents.
The 1955 election was significant in setting the stage for the self-governance of Singapore. It introduced a partially elected government responsible for internal affairs, though the British colonial authorities retained control over external affairs, defence and internal security. With more than 300,000 registered voters, the 1955 election saw a significant surge in voter registration compared to the 1948 and 1951 elections. However, voter turnout remained relatively low at 52.66%. The outcome of the election saw a rising tide of anti-colonial sentiment.
Background Following the promulgation of the Rendel Constitution, the 1955 elections marked the first occasion in which a majority of the Legislative Assembly seats were filled by election rather than appointment by the British colonial authorities. The new constitution was drafted based on recommendations from a committee headed by George William Rendel, aimed at granting greater autonomy to local citizens.
Under the new constitutional framework, executive power was shared between local elected representatives and the British colonial administration, with the introduction of the position of Chief Minister, who would be selected from among the elected legislators. The number of elected seats was increased to 25, while the British government retained the authority to appoint the remaining seven members. For the first time, political parties were allowed to adopt a standard symbol for all their candidates, and independent candidates could choose their own symbols instead of relying on a ballot system.
Additionally, the Colonial Secretary were replaced by the Chief Secretary, who was granted the power to appoint four nominated Assembly members. Several seats were removed from the legislature, including those held by the Solicitor-General, two directors, two ex officio members, representatives of the three commercial organisations (Singapore, Chinese and Indian) and the City Council.
Timeline DateEvent5 FebruaryDissolution of the Legislative Council28 FebruaryNomination Day2 April Polling day 6 April Inauguration of David Marshall as Chief Minister7 April Formation of Council of Ministers22 AprilOpening of 1st Legislative Assembly
Changes in electoral boundaries
Constituency Divisions formed from Bukit Panjang Bukit Timah & Seletar Cairnhill Balestier, Rochore & Tanglin Farrer Park Balestier Geylang Katong Havelock City, Keppel & Tanglin Kampong Kapor Rochore Pasir Panjang Bukit Timah & Keppel Paya Lebar Changi & Katong Punggol–Tampines Changi Queenstown Bukit Timah, Keppel & Tanglin Sembawang Bukit Timah & Seletar Serangoon Balestier, Changi & Seletar Southern Islands Bukit Timah & Keppel Stamford City & Rochore Tanjong Pagar City & Keppel Telok Ayer City Tiong Bahru Keppel Ulu Bedok Changi Whampoa Balestier
Incumbents not standing for re-election The following incumbent elected members of the Legislative Council did not run in the 1955 election. Incumbent Party ConstituencyElected inEwen MacGregor Field FergussonIndependentSingapore Chamber of Commerce1948Tan Chin TuanIndependentChinese Chamber of Commerce1948
Results
Although many British observers had expected the Progressive Party (PP) to win the election and for its leader Tan Chye Cheng to be appointed Chief Minister, the outcome proved to be a major upset. The newly formed Labour Front (LF) emerged with the largest number of seats, and its chairman David Marshall was appointed instead after unseating Tan at Cairnhill. When including two nominated members aligned with the party, the held 12 seats. It subsequently formed a minority government with the Singapore branches of the United Malays National Organisation (UMNO) and the Malayan Chinese Association (MCA), each holding one seat, along with the support of the three ex-officio members of the Assembly, the Chief Secretary William Goode, Attorney-General John Davies and Financial Secretary Thomas Hart. This alliance commanded a slim majority of 17 out of 32 seats in the Assembly.
This election remains unique in Singapore's political history as the only general election to have resulted in a coalition government, the only occasion on which there was a hung legislature and the only time ever since that a ruling government was not formed by the People's Action Party (PAP). On the opposition side, the newly established PAP, led by lawyer and former election agent Lee Kuan Yew, deliberately contested only a limited number of constituencies as a protest against the Rendel Constitution.
As independent member Ahmad Ibrahim joined PAP following the election, PAP had 4 members in the Assembly and thus Lee became the new Leader of the Opposition. Lee won Tanjong Pagar with 78.33% of the votes, one of the highest margins in the election, and later remarked that he had also considered contesting Tanglin, but chose Tanjong Pagar due to its strong dockworker base and welfare networks.
Although the electorate had expanded more than sixfold compared to previous elections, this remained the last general election to date in which voting was not compulsory. Voter turnout increased only marginally to 52.66%, a rise of 0.61%. Southern Islands recorded the highest turnout at 70%, while six constituencies saw turnouts below 50%, with Geylang registering the lowest at 41%. In contrast, the lowest turnout in the 1951 election had been City, at 44%. This was also the last general election where no party contested every seat.
The best-performing candidate was Lim Yew Hock of the LF, a future Chief Minister, who secured 86% of the vote and won by a margin of 79 percentage points. At the other end of the spectrum, independent candidate Chua Kim Watt received just 0.55% of the vote in Farrer Park, making him the worst-performing candidate; it was also the worst-performing score in any election at the time of the election in Singaporean election's history for around seven decades until the 2025 election. The narrowest winning margin was recorded by Malay Union candidate Inche Sidik, who won by just 1.15 percentage points. Ten candidates forfeited their $500 election deposits after failing to secure the required vote threshold.
By constituency ConstituencyElectoratePartyCandidateVotes%SwingMarginBukit Panjang8,012Progressive PartyGoh Tong Liang3,09772.21N/A44.42Labour FrontLim Wee Toh1,19227.79N/ABukit Timah9,173People's Action PartyLim Chin Siong3,25952.45N/A31.40Democratic PartyTan Wah Meng1,30821.05N/ALabour FrontA. N. Mitra92414.88N/AProgressive PartyS. F. Ho72211.6245.53Cairnhill13,528Labour FrontDavid Marshall3,30547.58N/A11.16Progressive PartyTan Chye Cheng2,53036.42N/ADemocratic PartyTan Khiang Khoo1,11116.00N/AChangi11,239Lim Cher Kheng2,62445.08N/A15.89Progressive PartyS. G. Mohamed Ghows1,69929.1943.33Labour FrontWong Sau Sheung1,49825.73N/AFarrer Park12,242A. R. Lazarous2,58538.52N/A5.45People's Action PartyDevan Nair2,21933.07N/AProgressive PartyEric Wee Sian Beng1,78426.59N/AIndependentC. T. B. Unnithan851.27N/AChua Kim Watt370.55N/AGeylang16,604Labour FrontMak Pak Shee2,75641.17N/A20.46IndependentGoh Hood Kiat1,38620.71N/ALabour PartyLee Yong Min1,32519.80N/ADemocratic PartyLam Joon Chong1,22618.32N/AHavelock12,835Labour FrontLim Yew Hock5,74486.48N/A78.58IndependentC. S. Soh5257.90N/AProgressive PartyChua Bock Kwee3735.62N/AKampong Kapor13,815Labour FrontSeah Peng Chuan3,25345.60N/A15.39IndependentDasaratha Raj2,15530.21N/ADemocratic PartyWong Shian Yein1,28317.98N/AProgressive PartyLim Kian Lee4436.21N/AKatong22,196Labour FrontA. J. Braga4,68045.66N/A16.73Progressive PartyJohn Laycock2,96528.9335.27Democratic PartyChan Wah Chip2,60525.41N/APasir Panjang13,812Malayan Chinese AssociationWong Foo Nam3,54645.17N/A14.98Progressive PartyK. M. S. Hamid2,37030.19N/ALabour FrontP. V. Krishnan1,30616.63N/ADemocratic PartyLeong Foon Chew6298.01N/APaya Lebar12,827Progressive PartyLim Koon Teck3,33052.07N/A4.14Democratic PartyTan Eng Joo3,06547.93N/APunggol–Tampines6,628People's Action PartyGoh Chew Chua2,12755.38N/A31.48Democratic PartyAnthony Goh91823.90N/AProgressive PartyH. A. De Silva79620.72N/AQueenstown7,015Labour FrontLee Choon Eng2,79267.28N/A49.55Democratic PartyMurray Brash73617.73N/AProgressive PartyElizabeth Choy62214.99N/ARochore12,073Labour FrontTan Theng Chiang2,92946.25N/A16.30Democratic PartyOng Eng Lian1,89729.95N/AProgressive PartySoh Ghee Soon1,50723.8019.32Seletar9,402IndependentM. P. D. Nair1,77131.83N/A2.50Lek Poh Song1,63229.33N/ADemocratic PartyTan Leong Teck1,25222.50N/ALabour FrontKhew Pee Ging90916.34N/ASembawang10,675IndependentAhmad Ibrahim4,28163.24N/A26.48Progressive PartyLee Kim Kee2,48836.76N/ASerangoon8,402Lim Choon Mong2,17245.83N/A16.03Democratic PartyLim Chye Seng1,41229.80N/AMalayan Chinese AssociationLim Siew Ek1,15524.37N/ASouthern Islands3,548Malay UnionMohamed Sidik1,23350.57N/A1.14Progressive PartyH. J. C. Kulasingha1,20549.43N/AStamford13,207Labour FrontJ. M. Jumabhoy2,69143.08N/A22.57IndependentT. A. Simon1,28120.51N/AProgressive PartyNazir Ahmad Mallal1,15318.46N/ADemocratic PartyNg Sen Choy1,12117.95N/ATanglin16,177Progressive PartyJohn Ede3,21445.6734.4710.13Democratic PartyLim Yong Bock2,50135.54N/ALabour FrontLim Seow Chuan1,32218.79N/ATanjong Pagar13,430People's Action PartyLee Kuan Yew6,02978.33N/A66.53Progressive PartyLim Seck Tiong90811.80N/ADemocratic PartyLam Thian7609.87N/ATelok Ayer11,547IndependentRajabali Jumabhoy1,94539.90N/A9.60Democratic PartySng Siak Hwee1,45330.30N/ALabour FrontTan Ewe Chee1,66029.80N/ATiong Bahru12,664Democratic PartyWilliam Tan2,26438.60N/A2.80Progressive PartyFoo Few Ting2,10035.80N/AMalayan Chinese AssociationTeo Seng Bee1,50225.60N/AUlu Bedok16,903United Malays National OrganisationAbdul Hamid Jumat5,72161.04N/A29.04Democratic PartyToh Seng Sit2,99932.00N/AProgressive PartyA. Hamid Rahmat6526.96N/AWhampoa12,345Labour FrontChew Swee Kee2,96145.88N/A6.13Progressive PartyThio Chan Bee2,56539.75N/ADemocratic PartyLee Kok Liang92714.37N/ASource: ELD, Singapore Elections
Incumbents defeated IncumbentConstituencyElected inWinnerName Party NamePartyDasaratha RajIndependentRochore (ran in Kampong Kapor)1951Seah Peng ChuanLFH. J. C. KulasinghaPPBukit Timah (ran in Southern Islands)Mohamed SidikKMJohn LaycockKatong1948A. J. BragaLFNazir Ahmad MallalCity (ran in Stamford)J. M. JumabhoyTan Chye ChengTanglin (ran in Cairnhill)David MarshallThio Chan BeeBalestier (ran in Whampoa)1951Chew Swee Kee
Notes
See also List of Singaporean electoral divisions (1955–59)
References
External links General Elections 1955 Singapore Elections Results of 1955 election in Singapore